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9/11PIHA Ghost of McMenamins Olympic Club in Centralia, WA
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McMenamins Olympic Club and Theater:
The bawdy Olympic Club opened in 1908 as a "gentleman's resort," and had a barber shop, shoeshine stand, cafe, bar, card room, pool room and cigar counter, complemented by urbane furnishings such as Belgian crystal and Tiffany lamps. The elegant trappings were meant to coax loggers and miners to leave their week's salary behind. And they often did. Next door, what began as the Oxford Hotel and New Tourist Bar was built in 1913 for railroad travelers. The hotel became especially noteworthy when in 1921 the train-robbing bandit Roy Gardner was captured in the hotel after escaping from federal guards days earlier and riding to Centralia on the cowcatcher of a slow-moving train. Jack Sciutto, the Olympic Club's original proprietor was crowned "King of Bootleggers".
Paranormal Research Notes:
Candles mysteriously lit; rearranged chairs in basement; falling ax; music drowned out by mysterious tune; a man's laughter has been hears echoing in the building. A ghost nicknamed 'Elmer' has been seen standing by the cast iron stove. It is thought that this ghost could be of Louis Galba who had rented a room at the hotel formerly on this site. The hotel burned in 1908, and Louis jumped to the ground from his second story room. He died a few months later of his injuries.
The bawdy Olympic Club opened in 1908 as a "gentleman's resort," and had a barber shop, shoeshine stand, cafe, bar, card room, pool room and cigar counter, complemented by urbane furnishings such as Belgian crystal and Tiffany lamps. The elegant trappings were meant to coax loggers and miners to leave their week's salary behind. And they often did. Next door, what began as the Oxford Hotel and New Tourist Bar was built in 1913 for railroad travelers. The hotel became especially noteworthy when in 1921 the train-robbing bandit Roy Gardner was captured in the hotel after escaping from federal guards days earlier and riding to Centralia on the cowcatcher of a slow-moving train. Jack Sciutto, the Olympic Club's original proprietor was crowned "King of Bootleggers".
Paranormal Research Notes:
Candles mysteriously lit; rearranged chairs in basement; falling ax; music drowned out by mysterious tune; a man's laughter has been hears echoing in the building. A ghost nicknamed 'Elmer' has been seen standing by the cast iron stove. It is thought that this ghost could be of Louis Galba who had rented a room at the hotel formerly on this site. The hotel burned in 1908, and Louis jumped to the ground from his second story room. He died a few months later of his injuries.
